Rain, cold remain in forecast

Snow possible Thursday, sun expected for championship parade Saturday

Brandon Katz of Tuscaloosa photographs the high waters of the Black Warrior River behind The Cypress Inn restaurant in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday.

Staff photo | Michelle Lepianka Carter

By Stephanie Taylor Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Another cold, wet day is in store for Tuscaloosa on Wednesday as flood warnings remain in effect.

A stalled cold front is expected to remain over the area, with rain expected to begin in the morning and continue on and off through the day, said Jody Aaron, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

There's a possibility of snow Thursday morning, when there is an 80 percent chance of precipitation. If it's still raining when a cold air mass moves in from the west, snow could form, but would not stick on the ground.

“It's a very tough call at this time,” he said. “We could see a switch-over from rain to snow, but it's hard so say how much. It would be a very brief window, probably from early morning until around noon. There could be rain mixed with snow, but after around 3 p.m. (Thursday), it would be done. We should finally begin to dry out that afternoon, but the clouds might hang around through Thursday night. Hopefully, we could see some sun on Friday.”

He said the sun will make a certain comeback on Saturday in time for the Crimson Tide's BCS Championship parade.

Some roads in Tuscaloosa County are still closed due to flooding.

Commerce Road, Fosters Loop Road, Riverbend Road, Whitfield Road and South Sandy Road remained closed this morning, according to the Tuscaloosa County Public Works Department.

Old Fayette Road and Harless Road, which were closed earlier today, are now open.

The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning in several west Alabama counties until Sunday evening.

Temperatures on Thursday might reach 50 degrees, Aaron said, but could remain in the 40s if there's cloud cover. Temperatures Friday could reach 53, but will drop to about 31 degrees on Friday night and the low 30s or upper 20s on Saturday morning.

“We will see sun on Saturday for sure,” he said.

It's not unusual for a cold front to stall, causing varied temperatures across the state. At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, it was 72 degrees in Eufaula, 70 degrees in Troy, 61 in Montgomery and 35 in Haleyville.

Days of rain led the National Weather Service to issue a river flood warning for Tuscaloosa and Greene counties that will be in effect through Friday.

The Black Warrior River swelled Tuesday.

Tuesday night, the Weather Service issued a flood warning for Tuscaloosa, Pickens, Fayette and Lamar counties, effective until 7 a.m. Wednesday, but it said the warning could be extended.

It said the flood warning covered the covered the cities and communities of Tuscaloosa, Northport, Holt, Aliceville, Pikensville, Reform, Samantha and Coker.

As of Tuesday afternoon, flooding was not forecast for areas along the Black Warrior River upstream of Tuscaloosa, but minor flooding had begun downstream.

Water levels had reached 130.45 feet by 4:30 p.m. at the Oliver Lock and Dam, west of downtown Tuscaloosa, and were expected to crest at about 131 feet by 6 p.m. Wednesday before falling again. Flood stage is 129 feet.

Water had reached 92.48 feet at the Selden Lock and Dam by 4:15 p.m. Tuesday — more than two feet higher than the 90 foot flood stage. It is expected to crest at about 97 feet today, which isn't high enough to be classified as moderate flooding.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Another cold, wet day is in store for Tuscaloosa on Wednesday as flood warnings remain in effect.</p><p>A stalled cold front is expected to remain over the area, with rain expected to begin in the morning and continue on and off through the day, said Jody Aaron, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham.</p><p>There's a possibility of snow Thursday morning, when there is an 80 percent chance of precipitation. If it's still raining when a cold air mass moves in from the west, snow could form, but would not stick on the ground.</p><p>“It's a very tough call at this time,” he said. “We could see a switch-over from rain to snow, but it's hard so say how much. It would be a very brief window, probably from early morning until around noon. There could be rain mixed with snow, but after around 3 p.m. (Thursday), it would be done. We should finally begin to dry out that afternoon, but the clouds might hang around through Thursday night. Hopefully, we could see some sun on Friday.”</p><p>He said the sun will make a certain comeback on Saturday in time for the Crimson Tide's BCS Championship parade.</p><p>Some roads in Tuscaloosa County are still closed due to flooding.</p><p>Commerce Road, Fosters Loop Road, Riverbend Road, Whitfield Road and South Sandy Road remained closed this morning, according to the Tuscaloosa County Public Works Department.</p><p>Old Fayette Road and Harless Road, which were closed earlier today, are now open.</p><p>The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning in several west Alabama counties until Sunday evening.</p><p>Temperatures on Thursday might reach 50 degrees, Aaron said, but could remain in the 40s if there's cloud cover. Temperatures Friday could reach 53, but will drop to about 31 degrees on Friday night and the low 30s or upper 20s on Saturday morning.</p><p>“We will see sun on Saturday for sure,” he said.</p><p>It's not unusual for a cold front to stall, causing varied temperatures across the state. At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, it was 72 degrees in Eufaula, 70 degrees in Troy, 61 in Montgomery and 35 in Haleyville.</p><p>Days of rain led the National Weather Service to issue a river flood warning for Tuscaloosa and Greene counties that will be in effect through Friday.</p><p><b>The Black Warrior River swelled Tuesday. </b></p><p>Tuesday night, the Weather Service issued a flood warning for Tuscaloosa, Pickens, Fayette and Lamar counties, effective until 7 a.m. Wednesday, but it said the warning could be extended. </p><p>It said the flood warning covered the covered the cities and communities of Tuscaloosa, Northport, Holt, Aliceville, Pikensville, Reform, Samantha and Coker. </p><p>As of Tuesday afternoon, flooding was not forecast for areas along the Black Warrior River upstream of Tuscaloosa, but minor flooding had begun downstream.</p><p>Water levels had reached 130.45 feet by 4:30 p.m. at the Oliver Lock and Dam, west of downtown Tuscaloosa, and were expected to crest at about 131 feet by 6 p.m. Wednesday before falling again. Flood stage is 129 feet. </p><p>Water had reached 92.48 feet at the Selden Lock and Dam by 4:15 p.m. Tuesday — more than two feet higher than the 90 foot flood stage. It is expected to crest at about 97 feet today, which isn't high enough to be classified as moderate flooding. </p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>